Today in Energy
First new U.S. nuclear reactor in almost two decades set to begin operating
For the next two weeks (Dec. 19–Dec. 30), Today in Energy will feature a selection of our favorite articles from 2016. Today's article was originally published on June 14.
The Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Watts Bar Unit 2 was connected to the power grid on June 3, becoming the first nuclear power plant to come online since 1996, when Watts Bar Unit 1 started operations. Watts Bar Unit 2 is undergoing final testing, producing electricity at incremental levels of power, as TVA prepares to start commercial operation later this summer. The new reactor is designed to add 1,150 megawatts (MW) of electricity generating capacity to southeastern Tennessee.
Tags: electricity, generation, nuclear
Natural gas expected to surpass coal in mix of fuel used for U.S. power generation in 2016
For the next two weeks (Dec. 19–Dec. 30), Today in Energy will feature a selection of our favorite articles from 2016. Today's article was originally published on March 16.
For decades, coal has been the dominant energy source for generating electricity in the United States. EIA's Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) is now forecasting that 2016 will be the first year that natural gas-fired generation exceeds coal generation in the United States on an annual basis. Natural gas generation first surpassed coal generation on a monthly basis in April 2015, and the generation shares for coal and natural gas were nearly identical in 2015, each providing about one-third of all electricity generation.
Tags: coal, electricity, generation, natural gas
Hydraulic fracturing accounts for about half of current U.S. crude oil production
For the next two weeks (Dec. 19–Dec. 30), Today in Energy will feature a selection of our favorite articles from 2016. Today's article was originally published on March 15.
Even though hydraulic fracturing has been in use for more than six decades, it has only recently been used to produce a significant portion of crude oil in the United States. This technique, often used in combination with horizontal drilling, has allowed the United States to increase its oil production faster than at any time in its history. Based on the most recent available data from states, EIA estimates that oil production from hydraulically fractured wells now makes up about half of total U.S. crude oil production.
Tags: crude oil, drilling, production
Growth in domestic natural gas production leads to development of LNG export terminals
For the next two weeks (Dec. 19–Dec. 30), Today in Energy will feature a selection of our favorite articles from 2016. Today's article was originally published on March 4.
The first export shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced in the Lower 48 states on February 24 is a milestone reflecting a decade of natural gas production growth that has put the United States in a new position in worldwide energy trade.
Solar, natural gas, wind make up most 2016 generation additions
For the next two weeks (Dec. 19–Dec. 30), Today in Energy will feature a selection of our favorite articles from 2016. Today's article was originally published on March 3.
Electric generating facilities expect to add more than 26 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale generating capacity to the power grid during 2016. Most of these additions come from three resources: solar (9.5 GW), natural gas (8.0 GW), and wind (6.8 GW), which together make up 93% of total additions. If actual additions ultimately reflect these plans, 2016 will be the first year in which utility-scale solar additions exceed additions from any other single energy source.
U.S. natural gas production resilient to market changes in 2015, but has fallen in 2016
U.S. dry natural gas production continued to increase in 2015, reaching 74.1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d). This record-high level was a 4.5% (3.2 Bcf/d) increase over 2014, according to EIA’s Natural Gas Annual, which provides final production data for 2015. The increase in 2015 production levels marked the tenth straight annual increase, with the most recent increase occurring despite natural gas prices at the Louisiana Henry Hub declining more than 40% from an average of $4.55 per million British thermal unit (MMBtu) in 2014 to $2.62/MMBtu in 2015.
Tags: natural gas, prices, production, shale, states
U.S. oil and natural gas proved reserves declined in 2015 because of lower prices
U.S. crude oil proved reserves declined 4.7 billion barrels (11.8%) from their year-end 2014 levels to 35.2 billion barrels at year-end 2015, according to EIA’s recently released U.S. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Proved Reserves report. U.S. natural gas proved reserves decreased 64.5 trillion cubic feet (Tcf), a 16.6% decline, reducing the U.S. total to 324.3 Tcf at year-end 2015.
Tags: crude oil, liquid fuels, natural gas, reserves, states
New EIA survey collects data on production and sales of wood pellets
Note: Data for February through June are preliminary.
Republished December 14, 2016, 10:30 a.m. to correct units on graph.
During the first half of 2016, U.S. manufacturers produced approximately 3.3 million tons of wood pellets and sold 3.1 million tons, mostly to foreign markets, according to data from EIA’s newly released Densified Biomass Fuel Report.
Tags: biomass, production, renewable, wood
EIA forecasts continued biomass-based diesel growth due to final 2017 RFS targets
Republished December 13, 2016, 11:45 a.m. to correct the RIN bank estimate.
On November 23, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its final rule for the 2017 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program year, with higher targets than those initially proposed in May. EPA increased both the advanced biofuels and total renewable fuel targets while keeping the cellulosic biofuel and biomass-based diesel targets unchanged.
Winter residential electricity consumption expected to increase from last winter
Note: Colder and warmer weather ranges represent forecast values when heating degree days are 10% higher or 10% lower than expected, respectively.
EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) projects that the average residential customer will consume 4% more electricity over December through March compared with the same period last winter. However, this forecast is highly dependent on winter temperatures. If temperatures are warmer than expected, as they have been the past two months, average electricity use could be slightly below that of the previous winter.
Tags: consumption, electricity, residential, weather
View Archive ›
Archive
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- 2011